Melanoma Foundation of New England
(MFNE), a non-profit aimed at reducing the incidence of melanoma, the
deadliest form of skin cancer, is now offering cities, non-profits and private
businesses the opportunity to obtain weather resistant, low maintenance
sunscreen dispensing units for the benefit of their communities. A limited
number are available for free to municipalities and non-profits that
apply via an online RFP process, and any public or private organization can
purchase dispensers for their use or as a donation. This sunscreen distribution
program, called Practice
Safe Skin, offers an effective preventive measure to help visitors
avoid sun over-exposure year round in public and private recreation areas
including playgrounds, ski areas, beaches, civic buildings and amusement parks.

The
RFP process to apply for a free unit runs through March 30, 2016, with priority
given to New England-based organizations in the first round. Businesses and
organizations seeking to purchase units can apply online throughout the
spring.

Melanoma is rising faster than any
other cancer with one person every 50 minutes dying from the disease. Studies
show that with daily sunscreen protection, the risk of melanoma is preventable.
In response to the Surgeon General’s 2014 Call to Action to address skin cancer
as a major public concern, MFNE and partnerMake Big
Change (MBC)launched a pilot program during the
summer 2015 to donate free sunscreen throughout Boston parks and Massachusetts
beaches at no cost to taxpayers.

According to Deb Girard,
Executive Director of MFNE, “Our pilot program this past summer to install
sunscreen dispensers within the City of Boston and on Massachusetts state
beaches was a huge success. We are thrilled to be able to expand on that
program and offer these sunscreen units for public and private distribution
throughout New England and beyond.” She added, “We hope these sunscreen
dispensers will become as ubiquitous as hand sanitizer over the next few years
in businesses and outdoor recreation areas across the country.”

Following the success of the pilot
program, the Practice Safe Skin initiative is expanding to give
cities and businesses across the country the ability to offer this public
safety program. MFNE will continue to donate free sunscreen dispensers to the
City of Boston and the Massachusetts Department of Recreation for state beaches
in 2016.

Sunscreen dispensers hold a 1000 mL
bag of sunscreen, for 670 applications per bag. The all-natural SPF-30
sunscreen is safe for people aged 6-months and up with an all-natural blend of
6% zinc and 6% titanium. All of the ingredients will be printed on the machines
upon installation, and are available upon request.

MFNE is subsidizing the cost and
procurement of the free public units through private and corporate sponsorship
donations, and funds raised by MFNE’s Running for Cover, one of the
Boston Athletic Association’s® Official Charity Teams for the Boston
Marathon. MFNE is also using this platform to expand their year-round
public education programs aimed at melanoma prevention and detection. MBC
is the New England provider of state-of-the-art automated sunscreen dispenser
units. Since 2014 MBC has worked to place sunscreen-dispensing devices
across high-traffic areas in New Hampshire including public parks and beaches.